Gerald Chouinard

Gerald Chouinard -- Kankakee Visitation for Gerald J. Chouinard, 72, of Kankakee, will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Clancy-Gernon-Hertz Funeral Home, west Kankakee. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Bradley.Burial will be in Kankakee Memorial Gardens, Aroma Township. Memorials may be made to Kankakee Valley MABAS Division 7 Fire Academy to establish a scholarship fund in honor of Gerald Chouinard. He died Saturday ( Dec. 15, 2007) at his home, with his family by his side.Mr. Chouinard was a tool and die maker and manufacturing engineer for A.O. Smith, retiring after 37 years of service and was also a part-time instructor at Kankakee Community College. After retirement he worked Holohan Heating and Air Conditioning. He was born Jan. 10, 1935, in Bradley, the son of Clifford and Anna Marie Roy Chouinard. He joined the Kankakee Township Fire Protection District on Nov. 1, 1966. Jerry was a strong supporter of fire service training, and he led by example by obtaining the following certifications: Firefighter II and III, Instructor I and Rescue Technician certifications in confined space, and Vertical and Trench Rescue.He served Kankakee Township for 37 years as firefighter, lieutenant, captain, assistant chief and fire chief for 10 years. During his tenure as fire chief, Jerry accepted an appointment to serve on the radio committee for the Kankakee Valley Fire Chief's Association. While serving on this committee, Jerry established the standard operating guidelines for the implementation of the 800 megahertz trunked radio system used by all fire departments in Kankakee County. Since implementing this radio system in 2001, little has changed with the guidelines created by Jerry.He liked crossword puzzles, brainteasers, bird-watching and bird feeding. He taught his grandchildren about space and the stars. He taught them to have the love of learning. He was the creator of many crafts, including woodworking and metal sculptures of dinosaurs. He always had the first garden tomato of the summer.He served in the U.S. Army. He was of the Catholic faith. There wasn't a stranger that he didn't have a joke for.Surviving are his wife, the former Patricia Martin, whom he married Aug. 5, 1961, at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Kankakee; two sons and daughters-in-law, Thomas and Susan Chouinard, Timothy and Brenda Chouinard, all of Kankakee; two daughters and sons-in-law, Leanne and Michael Carmody of Lake in the Hills, Lisa and Michael Gumprecht of Prospect, Conn.; and his beloved grandchildren, Trevor Chouinard, Tiffany Chouinard, Nolan Chouinard, Adam Carmody, Allison Carmody, Matthew Gumprecht and Andrew Gumprecht.He was preceded in death by his parents; and one brother, James.The family would like to express a sincere thank you to everyone at Hospice of Kankakee Valley, especially Theresa.

Gerald Chouinard

January 10, 1935 - December 15, 2007